Bertie Ahern
Question:130 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Defence the current position regarding Army allowances; and when these allowances will be paid. [24257/96]
Written Answers. - Army Allowances.
I understand that the question relates to the allowances payable to personnel serving in the Border area. In addition to basic pay, all personnel posted to Border units are in receipt of a Border duty allowance of £49.57 per week in the case of officers and £44.47 per week in the case of non-commissioned officers and privates. The allowance is paid, irrespective of the actual hours worked, on a continuous basis, including periods of annual leave, sick leave, etc. In addition, a military service allowance is payable to all members of the Permanent Defence Force up to and including the rank of colonel to compensate personnel for the special conditions associated with military life, such as the unsocial hours of duty, being subject to transfers and a requirement to serve in all conditions. The current rate in the case of officers is £2,070 per annum, and in the case of non-commissioned officers and privates is £39.68 per week, £2,070 per annum, with the exception of privates with less than three years' service who receive £14.29 per week. The allowance is paid irrespective of the actual hours worked.
A subsistence allowance is payable where personnel who are performing duties away from their stations are not provided with meals. This does not arise frequently, however, as there is a comprehensive catering system in place in Border units to cope with feeding troops in the field.
Under the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, the payment of allowances comes within the scope of representation of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, and the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers, RACO, and may be processed through the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force which was established in agreement with the associations. The question of the payment of allowances to personnel involved with the recent BSE-related operations in Border areas is under active discussion with the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, under the terms of the conciliation and arbitration scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, as agreed with the associations, discussions on claims which are being processed are confidential. The Deputy will appreciate, therefore, that as the matter is under active consideration at present it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.